Strange Bedfellows

How Talladega Nights Explains McChrystal Flap

Max Fisher 122 Views Jun 23, 2010

As we await President Obama's decision on whether or not he will fire General McChrystal, many observers are turning to an overlooked detail in the Rolling Stone profile that started this whole mess. McChrystal's favorite film, he told the magazine, is Talladega Nights, the 2006 Will Ferrell NASCAR comedy. It's an odd choice for a man who formerly commanded shadowy special ops in Iraq and now leads 120,000 soldiers in one of the modern world's most complicated wars. But what does it reveal about McChrystal, his meeting with Obama, and his ultimate fate? Probably nothing, but that hasn't stopped the comparisons from flying. Here they are, with some bonus predictions about how McChrystal's favorite beverage--Bud Light Lime--could factor in. (To clarify, "M4" is McChrystal.)

Is anyone taking an over/under for how long until an article explores what Talladega Nights says about McChrystal's Afpak strategy?less than a minute ago via EchofonChristopher Albon
chrisalbon

Wonder if McChrystal woke up this morning and pissed excellence. #McClusterfuck #RickyBobby (Let's hope so.)less than a minute ago via webGulliver Inkspots
InkSptsGulliver

I predict M4 will be fired, but then his real father will teach him how to be a general again by locking him in a car with a cougar.less than a minute ago via TweetDeckAndrew Exum
abumuqawama

O to M4: "If you smell a delicious, crispy smell after the meeting, it's not your tailpipe. It's just a little bit of SHAKE... and BAKE!"less than a minute ago via webGulliver Inkspots
InkSptsGulliver

M4 and POTUS go together like cocaine and waffles. http://youtu.be/8RUO-V9BSnc RT @natlsecuritycnn: Gen. McChrystal has arrived at the WH.less than a minute ago via TweetDeckAndrew Exum
abumuqawama

If Old Ebbitt has a special on Bud Light Lime, you know McChrystal gets the axeless than a minute ago via TweetDeckattackerman
attackerman

Meeting over. McChrystal now leading WH, Pentagon on slow-speed chase in white Bronco.less than a minute ago via TwitterGadgetpourmecoffee
pourmecoffee

@InkSptsGulliver What if Obama finds out M4 doesn't chew Big Red? http://youtu.be/rwmZOxQmHlEless than a minute ago via TweetDeckAndrew Exum
abumuqawama

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Topics: Military

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